Module overview
Robots are becoming more widely used in society, with applications ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing, with increasing interest in autonomous systems.
This module will introduce students to the fundamentals of robotic systems including kinematics and dynamics as applied to manipulators and mobile robots. To support many application sensors are required, the module will discuss tactile and vision sensing as applied to both fixed and mobile robots.
The design and control of multifingered end effectors will be considered in detail. The module will conclude with a study on how biological systems have influenced the development of current and future robotic systems, including swarms and humanoid robotic systems.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Develop control algorithms for individual robots or robot swarms, to undertake simple tasks such as foraging.
- Appreciate the relevance of the biology-robotic interface and how it can benefit both the understanding of biological systems and the design of individual or groups of robots
- Analyse the kinematics of a robot and its associated control system
- Describe the operation and application of a range of sensors (e.g. vision, tactile) and how they can be applied to a mobile or static robot system
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Be able to identify the limitations of a robot (either mobile or static), together with its end effectors and sensors, when applied to a specific environment or task
Syllabus
Introduction
- Definition of robotic systems, including an overview of manufacturing systems, biologically inspired robotics, medical applications, and space applications.
Manipulators
- Classification of types of robot
- Identification of manipulator components and terminology
- Joints classification
- Mobile robot platforms.
Kinematics
- Axis transformations as applied to robotics
- Application and definition of the DH matrix
- Forward and reverse kinematics
- Introduction to Jacobian and dynamic performance
- Path generation
- Definition of workspace.
Teleoperation
- Master-slave systems
- Supervisory control
- Latency problems.
Robotic end effectors
- Characteristic of the human hand
- Underactuated systems
- Stable grip
- Constraints
- Types of contact
- Mathematical representation of stable grip
- Use of screw twist, and wrench gripper design.
Tactile Sensors
- Construction of tactile and touch sensors
- Interpretation of sensory information
- Use of sensory data to determine kinematic information
- Peg into hole problem
- Contacts
- RCC and IRCC systems.
Vision Systems
- Computer vision
- Sobal operator
- Perception
- Optical flow
- Road car
- Quad-copter navigation
Biologically inspired robotics
- Bio-inspired morphologies
- Sensors and actuators
- What is intelligence
- Reactive and deliberative control
- Learning
- SLAM
- Behaviours
- Multi-robot and swarm systems
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
All students will be provided with a hard copy of the lectured material. A number of tutoral sessions will be provide, particularly to cover the kinematic and control aspects of the module.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Lecture | 36 |
Revision | 14 |
Wider reading or practice | 56 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 18 |
Follow-up work | 26 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Craig J J (1993). Introduction to Robotics, Mechanics and Control. Addison Wesley.
McKerrow P J (1993). Introduction to Robotics. Addison Wesley.
Schilling R J (1990). Fundamentals of Robotics - Analysis & Control. Prentice Hall.
Fu K, Gonzalez R and Lee C. Robotics (Control Sensing Vision & Intelligence). McGraw Hill.
Assessment
Summative
Summative assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Final Assessment | 100% |
Referral
Referral assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat
Repeat assessment description
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External